{Take} a Moment to {Enjoy} (Open)

[wizardlizard]

Leonie chuckled as she led her horse into her temporary stall. "I think I might too. I brought another outfit, thankfully." Her grandmother chuckled.

"II told you so." She said smugly. Leonie smirked ruefully at the older woman before shaking her head.

"Oh alright. Yes, you were right. Nana." She said. The elder Tekiel pat Leonie on her shoulder as she passed, looking satisfied.

"Of course my little Leonie. I'm always right." Leonie chuckled, running her fingers through her red hair before following the elder woman. She glanced at Adelaide.

"I suppose we'll see you soon after we've changed."

[echolight4eva]

"Meet me in the entrance hallway," Adelaide agreed, rushing up a flight of stairs to her shared chambers with Nazeal. She changed into a pretty purple dinner gown and slipped into fresh shoes before spritzing her skin with perfume and then rushing back down to her guests.

[wizardlizard]

Leonie had already changed into black trousers and a dark green tunic. She smiled warmly as Adelaide hurried down and gave a short bow. "Hello Adelaide. I have to say, you look very good in blues and purples." She said with a chuckle. Her grandmother, who had once again looped her arm through Leonie's offered one, looked Adelaide uover appraisingly. She looked satisfied with what she saw.

"Yes indeed! It a great color on you dear! I do hope you wear it often. It brings out your eyes." She said with a smile.

[echolight4eva]

Adelaide smiled at them. "Shall we?" As a gracious host, she walked ahead of them, at an appropriate, slow pace, and led them to the huge dining room. "Well, here we are. Sit where you like. I usually sit here," she said, choosing a chair that was two down from the head of the table. If this was a normal dinner, Nazeal would be next to her, and then his father, but everybody was busy tonight, plus it was early, so they were the only ones eating in the dining room with the long mahogany table.

[wizardlizard]

Leonie and her grandmother ended up sitting right across from Adelaide, with Leonie pulling the chair out for her grandmother in a very gentlemanly fashion. "We wouldn't want to be shouting over the table." Madame Raine said with a chuckle as she sat. "Or have to be constantly turning our necks. I don't think I could handle that." Leonie only laughed as she took her own seat.

"I think that's just our excuse, Nana. You're probably the most mobile person I've seen. You never stay in one place for too long." She pointed out. The elder Tekiel scoffed at this.

"Nonsense! I'm as mobile as a snail."

[echolight4eva]

Adelaide smiled. Soon, the first course was served, a light soup. Adelaide ate a little of this so as to be polite, but she knew she had to get to the next few courses as well. She took about five sips before finishing.

[wizardlizard]

The Tekiel woman did much the same thing, with Leonie eating more than her grandmother before stopping. "So my dear, I have to ask," Madame Raine began with a smile, "what was your first thought when you married into then Venture house?" Leonie raised an eyebrow at her.

"Nana..." She trailed off, but her grandmother only waved her hand nonchalantly.

"Oh, it's just a question Leonie! She married into a very important house! I could see how anyone would be nervous in that situation! I'm simply asking the girl how she reacted." She insisted. Leonie hid her amused smile by taking a sip of her drink

[echolight4eva]

Adelaide swallowed softly. "Well, I was very much honored to be selected for Nazeal. We had met a few times before and he is a very kind man." The next course came out, a plate of thinly sliced meat and some pieces of fruit.

[wizardlizard]

The two Tekiel woman ate with impeccable manners. "Were you nervous? I know that it's a bit scary with the whole arranged marriage deal. You never know if you could get some bloated grease ball for a husband." Leonie laughed at her grandmother's words.

"Well, Adelaide's marriage turned out to be a good one." She said. Madame Raine chuckled.

"Yes, and thank The Lord Ruler for that. I would hate to imagine someone as kind and as lovely as you, dear, being married off to some fat pig of a man." She said, looking at Adelaide with a warm smile

[echolight4eva]

Adelaide finished her bite before replying, also having the utmost in manners. "I was nervous, yes," she replied, "but Nazeal is so kind and so gentle that I soon forgot my nervousness."

[wizardlizard]

Leonie's smiled widened. "That's good to hear." She said. Her grandmother chuckled and nodded.

"Oh yes, good indeed! If what you say is true, I have no doubt he'll make a good father." Leonie chuckled with her before looking at Adleide.

"I have to ask though; have you interacted with your husband's brother much?" Leonie questioned.

"What's his name again?" Madame Raine asked.

"Theon Venture, Nana. He's older than Adelaide's husband." Leonie answered

[echolight4eva]

Adelaide shook her head. "No, I haven't. Their father is very angry at Theon, so I only met him once before our wedding." She looked at them easily, finding it easy to lie about this. She had no doubt Theon was a cruel man, but she doubted he had raped that Elariel girl.

[wizardlizard]

Madame Raine huffed. "Ah, now I remember him. He seems like such an angry boy, that one. Probably jealous of your husband for taking his inheritance. I've heard much about that one." Leonie nodded, her smile still easy, but smaller now as she looked at Adelaide.

"As have I, and I've met him on the few occasions he and I would happen to be at the same social event." She sipped from her glass. "He does indeed seem like a very angry man, and I've heard from many that he is cruel as well."

"Wasn't there that ball incident recently?" Her grandmother asked. Leonie nodded.

"Yes. Rumors have it that he raped the Lady Faeldrin Elariel." She answered. "Personally, I don't think he did it." She mused, taking another sip from her cup. Her grandmother looked at her with a curious gaze, one eyebrow raised.

"Really? And why's that?" She inquired. Leonie swallowed before smiling slightly and putting her drink down.

"Theon wants nothing more than to be in his father's good graces. It's something I've observed from the few encounters I've had with him. Raping the lady Elariel would not only put him immensely out of favor with his father, but most likely severe any chance he had. Is he capable of the deed? Oh, I have no doubt he could do it. But would he do it if it endangered his already shaky relationship with his father? Would he do it to a fellow noble at a ball? That I find highly unlikely." She finished with a shrug. "In my own opinion of course." She added with a smile before looking at Adelaide. "What do you think? He is your brother in law."

[echolight4eva]

Adelaide raised her eyebrows, somewhat surprised they would discuss this over dinner. It was hardly an appropriate table topic. "I am not sure. As I said, I haven't met him but once. He did seem like an angry person, but, while I don't think he is capable of the deed, I cannot say for certain whether or not he did."

[wizardlizard]

Both nodded before Leonie shook her head. "Ah, but this isn't the best time. I forget you aren't actually from my family, Adelaide. I'm getting too informal with you." She chuckled. Her grandmother scoffers

"Oh, Lord Ruler forbid that you actually get informal with someone other than me, Leonie." She said sarcastically

"Nana!" Leonie protested with a look of mock hurt on her face. "Are you saying I'm usually stiff?" Her grandmother chuckled before taking another sip from her cup.

"My little Leonie, you are stiffer than a board sometimes." She said with a smile.

"Nana!" Leonie exclaimed, laughing. Once she calmed down, she smiled at Adelaide. "Ah, but I do apologize. That wasn't very appropriate to discuss over dinner."